DE Aidan Hutchinson leads the Lions with five sacks in four games this year.
DE Aidan Hutchinson leads the Lions with five sacks in four games this year.
Lake Forest, Ill. – Tyrique Stevenson says he’s ready to return to the scene of one of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history Monday night when the Chicago Bears visit Washington.
Last year, the Chicago cornerback had his back turned to the field, then rushed in and tipped Jayden Daniels’ 52-yard desperation pass to Noah Brown for a winning touchdown.
“Just use it as motivation to come out and stay focused on all tasks and definitely, definitely learn to wait until the clock hits double-zeroes,” Stevenson said. “Just use that as a learning curve to mature and be the cornerback that this team needs.”
Coming off two of his best games to date, the third-year cornerback remembers the sting still. He was interacting with the crowd while his back was turned to the action, then rushed back in and tipped the ball back to the man he was supposed to be covering in the end zone for an 18-15 loss.
“It was harsh, it hurt my feelings,” Stevenson said. “That’s the best way I can explain it – it just hurt my feelings being a football player and having one of those mistakes that’s going to linger around. Even when my son grows up, I’ve got to explain that to him. It definitely hurt. But just use it as fuel.”
The loss started a 10-game losing streak that resulted in the firing of Matt Eberflus and staff, leading to Ben Johnson’s hiring as new head coach.
Stevenson felt he held up during the wake of the loss as best he could, considering his gaffe cost the Bears a sure win after they had rallied in the closing minutes for a 15-12 lead.
The end result was a constant barrage of jokes through social media memes.
The play was even named at NFL Honors as the season’s top moment.
“At the end of the day I’m a man and I stand on integrity,” Stevenson said. “The best thing I could do was go address it and let the guys know and the world know that that’s not who I am, but that’s who I showed.
“The only thing I can do from then on is show my actions have changed so I can become a better man and a better football player on the field.”
Teammates supported him, by and large.
“Being honest, I got a couple side-eyes,” Stevenson said. “But that comes with … this is what we do for a living. This is who we are in some cases.
“And the best thing we can do is go out there and make great plays. And I put a bad play on film. The best thing they could do was come around and put their arm around me and be like, ‘we got you.’ That’s what they showed me all last year.”
Teammates have to admit it wasn’t an easy thing to get past and there is still some lingering pain, but quarterback Caleb Williams said it isn’t enough to make this into a “revenge” game.
“Obviously, you don’t want to lose, especially in that fashion of a Hail Mary,” quarterback Caleb Williams said. “So does it bother me? I’m not going to speak for everybody else. Does it bother me? Yeah, in the sense that I want to go out there and I want to win every single game that I’ve got.”
Stevenson had a slow start and had the worst possible passer rating against of 158.3 when targeted following two games this season.
However, he has since turned it around by stealing the football from Dallas’ Javonte Williams from behind to start a 31-14 Bears win over Dallas, and then making an interception and fumble recovery in a 25-24 win over the Raiders.
Stevenson has a forced fumble, two recoveries, an interception and five pass breakups, but is certain he’s going to hear it from Commanders fans Monday even if he says has put this in his past.
“Going back to a hostile environment, they’re going to do their best job to rattle me as much as they can,” Stevenson said. “But like I was saying earlier, the best thing I can do is come out here and show these 10 (teammates) I’m locked in and ready to go.”
Jackson still absent from Ravens practice
Owings Mills, Md. – The Baltimore Ravens made two additions to their secondary this week – and now another key player might be on his way back.
Kyle Hamilton was at practice Wednesday after missing last weekend’s loss to Houston with a groin problem. Baltimore was still without several key players – including Lamar Jackson – during the portion of practice open to reporters, but the situation in the back end of the defense is looking a bit less dire.
Baltimore’s defense has already allowed 177 points in five games. The Ravens (1-4) can’t afford to wait until the trade deadline to fix that. On Tuesday, they signed safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the practice squad and traded for safety Alohi Gilman.
“I woke up today and I was like, ‘Dang, there’s two new faces in the room.’ So, it’s a little different, but you realize that it’s your job,” rookie safety Malaki Starks said. “There’s a sense of urgency that goes behind it.”
Gardner-Johnson and Gilman were both at practice Wednesday, along with Hamilton. Cornerback Marlon Humphrey (calf) was not. Neither were Jackson (hamstring) or linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring). Tackle Ronnie Stanley (ankle) was on the field, but he practiced some last week and still wasn’t available for the game against the Texans.
“Same with all the guys that are dealing with the different injuries,” coach John Harbaugh said. “I think it’ll be indicative as the week goes along and what their status will be going forward.”
Baltimore hosts the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. Then the Ravens get a much-needed open date before the schedule eases up a bit.
The 27-year-old Gardner-Johnson joins the Ravens a couple weeks after being cut by Houston. He was released after only three games with the Texans. They had acquired him from Philadelphia in an offseason trade.
“I’ve always liked the way he played. He brings it,” Harbaugh said. “He’s a ‘bring it’ attitude guy. He’s a physical player, a lot of juice and a lot of energy.”
Gilman, who turned 28 last month, was a starter in the secondary for the Chargers. Even if Hamilton is back, the Ravens could use help in a defensive backfield where three rookies – including two who were undrafted – started last weekend.
Harbaugh said there’s a chance Gilman can play right away this weekend. He’ll have had a chance to catch his breath after a busy 24 hours surrounding the trade.
“I’ve been awake for about 21 of them. It’s been a long day,” Gilman said. “I’m still processing everything. It’s been cool to be here, and everyone’s been opening up their arms and just showing the hospitality. I have a little bit of history with Maryland. I was at the Naval Academy out of high school, so it has a special place in my heart.”
Gilman will now transition from being coached by Jim Harbaugh in Los Angeles to being coached by his brother John in Baltimore.
“I’m excited to see the similarities and differences,” Gilman said. “Obviously, I have a lot of respect for both of them.”
Although the secondary has been a point of weakness for Baltimore, so has the pass rush, so losing edge rusher Odafe Oweh in the trade for Gilman could be significant. However, there’s still plenty of time before the Nov. 4 trade deadline to add more on defense.
“It’s twofold – the guys (we currently have) will be in there, and their reps will ramp up. We’ll see how they handle it and see if they can get to the quarterback,” Harbaugh said. “Then, I’m sure until the trade deadline, those are going to be conversations that will be had.”
Jaguars, Browns trade starting CBs
Jacksonville, Fla. – Jacksonville and Cleveland swapped starting cornerbacks Wednesday night, with Tyson Campbell going to the Browns and Greg Newsome heading to the Jaguars, a person familiar with the trade said.
The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been formally announced. ESPN and NFL Network first reported the swap.
The teams also exchanged late-round draft picks in 2026, with Jacksonville getting a sixth-rounder from Cleveland and the Browns getting a seventh-rounder from the Jaguars.
Jacksonville signed Campbell to a four-year, $76.5 million extension last year that included $54.4 million guaranteed. But the second-round pick in the 2021 NFL draft never fit the team’s new defensive scheme and struggled in coverage with his back to the ball.
Newsome, the 26th overall pick in 2021, is in the final year of a contract that pays him $13.4 million.
It’s the latest trade for the Browns, who sent quarterback Joe Flacco to Cincinnati a day earlier.
49ers’ Purdy misses practice
Santa Clara, Calif. – San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy was unable to practice Wednesday as he his still hampered by a toe injury that has sidelined him for three games already this season.
The Niners began preparations for this week’s game at Tampa Bay without Purdy able to practice. Coach Kyle Shanahan said Purdy is making progress and the team has not contemplated putting him on injured reserve.
But San Francisco might need to play another game with Mac Jones as starter with Purdy’s status in question. Jones was limited at practice with a knee and oblique injury but should be available to start if necessary.
Jones is 3-0 as a starter this season and is one of only two quarterbacks ever to win his first three starts with a franchise while throwing for at least 900 yards and six touchdowns.
The 49ers are still short-handed at several key spots even after getting a few extra days of practice following a win in overtime last Thursday against the Los Angeles Rams.
Leading receiver Ricky Pearsall missed practice with a knee injury after missing last week’s game and seems unlikely to be back this week.
“We’ll see if there’s a turn here on Thursday or Friday, but I’m not counting on it right now,” Shanahan said.
Receiver Jauan Jennings (ankle, ribs) also didn’t practice after missing last week’s game and star tight end George Kittle isn’t expected back from injured reserve from a hamstring injury until next week at the earliest.
San Francisco has gotten some help on defense with defensive tackle Kevin Givens and safety Malik Mustapha both having their practice windows open this week. Givens has been out since training camp with a pectoral injury and Mustapha has been sidelined since having surgery on a knee injury after last season.
Both could be activated in time to play Sunday against the Bucs.
The other players out of practice on Wednesday were receiver Jordan Watkins (calf), defensive end Robert Beal (ankle), defensive lineman Yetur Gross-Matos (knee, hamstring), defensive tackle Alfred Collins (knee), running back Christian McCaffrey (rest) and left tackle Trent Williams (rest).
Defensive tackle C.J. West (thumb), cornerback Upton Stout (ankle) and defensive lineman Kalia Davis (hand) were all limited.
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